Concealed-carry proponents cheer Supreme Court gun decision

An ongoing local push for some sort of concealed carry law got a momentum boost Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Second Amendment gun rights apply to state and local gun laws.

The 5-4 high court's ruling said the Constitution gives individuals equal or greater power than states on the right to possess firearms for self-protection, striking a blow to the city of Chicago's 28-year-old handgun ban.

John Sharp

An ongoing local push for some sort of concealed carry law got a momentum boost Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Second Amendment gun rights apply to state and local gun laws.

The 5-4 high court's ruling said the Constitution gives individuals equal or greater power than states on the right to possess firearms for self-protection, striking a blow to the city of Chicago's 28-year-old handgun ban.

"Hopefully this will help fuel the momentum for Illinois, and Wisconsin, to finally catch up with the rest of the nation and grant law-abiding Illinois citizens the ability to legally carry a firearm," Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard said.

Mayor Jim Ardis, a proponent of establishing Peoria as a pilot city for a statewide concealed-carry law, agreed.

"Unfortunately, nothing happens fast in Springfield, but I am optimistic that this decision will allow us to move forward to obtain strong carry laws in Illinois," Ardis said. "I am certain that violent crime in Illinois as a whole and certainly in Peoria will be reduced as a direct result of this decision."

Ardis and Settingsgaard pushed for concealed carry during a March 2 hearing before the Illinois Senate's public health committee. During that meeting, Ardis cited Otis McDonald and Adam Orlov - two of the four plaintiffs involved in the Chicago gun ban case - saying Peorians are just like them in that they want to protect their families, homes and businesses.

Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states without any kind of concealed-carry law.

"I am pleased that the Supreme Court validated the rights of citizens of Illinois and affirmed that ours are the same as those in 48 other states," Ardis said. "I wonder out loud why it took us 30 years to figure that out?"

Concealed-carry skeptics said the Supreme Court's ruling will have no effect on state law nor will it aid the city's push to make Peoria a pilot city for a statewide concealed-carry law.

Any change allowing concealed carry in Illinois, whether it's in Peoria or statewide, requires the General Assembly's approval and the governor's endorsement.

Local lawmakers are unsure how the Supreme Court's decision will play out in Springfield, where Chicago lawmakers often block concealed-carry measures. The Peoria pilot program likely won't be considered again until next year.

"I'm not sure, politically, if there is any real change," state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said. "Chicago has the votes to block this. We'll have to wait and see what the aftermath is."

"It may strengthen our hand in that we have this decision behind us," Smith said. "I think some people were maybe waiting to see what would happen with the court decision. The fact of the matter is, we have concealed carry in 48 other states and it's working well. It's not the Wild West with everyone carrying a gun on their hip."

The court's decision also was political for the Republican challengers for Smith's 91st House seat and Rep. Jehan Gordon's 92nd House seat.